• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.383-393
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• 2018

Infill wall strengthening method has been widely used for seismic strengthening of deteriorated reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures with non-seismic details. Although such infill wall method can ensure sufficient lateral strengths of RC frame structures deteriorated in seismic performances with a low constructional cost, it generally requires quite cumbersome construction works due to its complex connection details between an infill wall and existing RC frame. In this study, an advanced seismic strengthening method using externally-anchored precast wall panels (EPCW) was developed to overcome the disadvantage inherent in the existing infill wall strengthening method. A total of four RC frame specimens were carefully designed and fabricated. Cyclic loading tests were then conducted to examine seismic performances of RC frame specimens strengthened using the EPCW method. Two specimens were fully strengthened using stocky precast wall panels with different connection details while one specimen was strengthened only in column perimeter with slender precast wall panels. Test results showed that the strength, stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity of RC frame specimens strengthened by EPCWs were improved compared to control frame specimens without strengthening.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.299-310
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• 2018

When reinforced concrete structures are subjected to strong seismic forces, their beam-column connections are very susceptible to be damaged during the earthquake event. Consequently, structural designers try to fit an important quantity of steel reinforcement inside the connection, complicating its construction without a clear justification for this. The aim of this work is to evaluate -and demonstrate- numerically how the quantity and the array of the internal steel reinforcement influences on the nonlinear response of the RC beam-column connection. For this, two specimens (extracted from an experimental test of 12 RC beam-column connections reported in literature) were modeled in the Finite Element code FEAP considering different stirrup's arrays. The nonlinear response of the RC beam-column connection is evaluated taking into account the nonlinear thermodynamic behavior of each component: a damage model is used for concrete; a classical plasticity model is adopted for steel reinforcement; the steel-concrete bonding is considered perfect without degradation. At the end, the experimental responses obtained in the tests are compared to the numerical results, as well as the distribution of shear stresses and damage inside the concrete core of the beam-column connection, which are analyzed for a low and high state of confinement.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.348-359
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• 2018

A series of indoor simulation tests on a large-sized shaking table was performed, which was used to simulate the earthquake ground motion for the pipe-soil interaction system to be tested. The purpose of this study is to examine the dynamic characteristic and seismic response of a length of PVC pipeline lay on a clay seabed under seismic load. The pipeline was fully instrumented to provide strain and acceleration responses in both transverse and in-line. Dynamical modal tests show that corresponding mode shapes vertically and horizontally are basically the same. But the absolute values of the natural frequencies vertically are all higher than those corresponding values in transverse. It turned out that the geometry configuration of riser affects its stiffness. Seismic response of pipeline depends significantly on the waveform, and Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA). As the seismic loading progressed, the strain response was severe around both TDZ and catenary zone. Additionally, strain responses in top and bottom positions were more severe than the result in left or right side of the pipeline in the same section.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.971-983
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• 2015

To promote greater acceptance and use of composite RCS systems, a two-bay two-story frame specimen with improved composite RCS joint details was tested in the laboratory under reversed cyclic loading. The test revealed superior seismic performance with stable load versus story drift response and excellent deformation capacity for an inter-story drift ratio up to 1/25. It was found that the failure process of the frame meets the strong-column weak-beam criterion. Furthermore, cracking inter-story drift ratio and ultimate inter-story drift ratio both satisfy the limitation prescribed by the design code. Additionally, inter-story drift ratios at yielding and peak load stage provide reference data for Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) approaches for composite RCS frames. An advantage over conventional reinforced concrete and steel moment frame systems is that the displacement ductility coefficient of the RCS frame system is much larger. To conclude, the test results prove that composite RCS frame systems perform satisfactorily under simulated earthquake action, which further validates the reliability of this innovative system. Based on the test result, some suggestions are presented for the design of composite RCS frame systems.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-74
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• 2015

Since there are several places located in active seismic zones in the world, serious damages and losses have happened due to major scaled earthquakes. Especially, structures having different irregularities have been severely damaged or collapsed during these seismic events. Behavior of existing structures under several loading conditions is not completely determined due to some uncertainties. This situation reveals the importance of design and analysis of structures under seismic effects. Several non-linear static procedures have been developed in recent years. Determination of the seismic safety of the existing structures and strengthening techniques are significant civil engineering problems Non-linear methods are defined in codes to determine the performance levels of structures more accurately. However, displacement based ones give more realistic results. These methods provide more reliable evaluation possibilities for existing structures with developing computer technology. In this study, non-linear performance analysis of existing and strengthened steel structures by X shaped bracing members with 3, 5 and 7 stories which have soft story irregularity is performed according to FEMA-356 and Turkish Earthquake Code-2007. Damage ratios of the structural members and global performance levels are determined as well as modal properties and story drift ratios after non-linear finite elements analysis for each structure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.03b
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• pp.239-246
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• 2000

It has been generally much fine contents in West Coast of Korea. When cyclic shear stress causing liquefaction was estimated as using cyclic triaxial tests in these grounds, it didn't appear linear relations between deviator stress and confining stress where σ'₃ was more than 150 kpa. Namely, due to no normalization of cyclic shear stress ratio, the errors of this is increased. Therefore, more confining stress is increased, more increment of deviator stress is decreased. So, using linear relations between tanø'/sub d/ of dynamic internal friction angle and CSR where σ'₃ was less than 150 kpa, liquefaction of these grounds was evaluated. Also, as doing detail evaluation which had carried response analysis of earthquake, this appeared good results which was well compatible with empirical methods using N-value of SPT. It was thought that these result evaluated vulnerable liquefaction area more correct than existing methods. Also, characteristics of liquefaction in West Coast grounds was compared with clean sands, with analysis of behavior of pore pressure ratio and axial strain affected by fine contents, as cyclic loading was applied.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.183-192
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• 1994

Seismic safety of RC structure can be evaluated by numerical analysis considering randomness of earthquake motion and hysteretic behavior of reinforced concrete, which is more rational than determirustic analysis. In the safety assessment of aseismatic structures by the deterministic theory, it is not easy to consider th effects of random variables but the reliability theory and random vibration theory are useful to assess seismic safety with considering random effects. This study aims at the evaluation of sesmic damage and risk of the RC frame structure by stochastic response analysis of hysteretic system and then the calculation stages of the prob ability of failure are presented.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2013

A probabilistic assessment code, PRO-LOCA ver. 3.7 which was developed in an international co-operative research program, PARTRIDGE was evaluated by conducting sensitivity analysis. The effect of some variables such as simulation methods (adaptive sampling, iteration numbers, weld residual stress model), crack features(Poisson's arrival rate, maximum numbers of cracks, initial flaw size, fabrication flaws), operating and loading conditions(temperature, primary bending stress, earthquake strength and frequency), and inspection model(inspection intervals, detectable leak rate) on the failure probabilities of a surge line nozzle was investigated. The results of sensitivity analysis shows the remaining problems of the PRO-LOCA code such as the instability of adaptive sampling and unexpected trend of failure probabilities at an early stage.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.233-256
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• 2015

This paper presents an experimental study to assess the effectiveness of using ferrocement to strengthen deficient beam-column joints. Ferrocement is proposed to protect the joint region through replacing concrete cover. Six exterior beam-column joints, including two control specimens and four strengthened specimens, are prepared and tested under constant axial load and quasi-static cyclic loading. Two levels of axial load on column (0.2fc'Ag and 0.4fc'Ag) and two types of skeletal reinforcements in ferrocement (grid reinforcements and diagonal reinforcements) are considered as test variables. Experimental results have indicated that ferrocement as a composite material can enhance the seismic performance of deficient beam-column joints in terms of peak horizontal load, energy dissipation, stiffness and joint shear strength. Shear distortions within the joints are significantly reduced for the strengthened specimens. High axial load (0.4fc'Ag) has a detrimental effect on peak horizontal load for both control and ferrocement-strengthened specimens. Specimens strengthened by ferrocement with two types of skeletal reinforcements perform similarly. Finally, a method is proposed to predict shear strength of beam-column joints strengthened by ferrocement.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.73-91
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• 2015

The effectiveness of tuned mass dampers (TMDs) in reducing the seismic response of civil structures is still a debated issue. The few studies regarding TMDs on inelastic structures indicate that they would perform well under moderate earthquake loading, when the structure remains linear or weakly nonlinear, while tending to fail under severe ground shaking, when the structure experiences strong nonlinearities. TMD seismic efficiency should be therefore rationally assessed by considering to which extent moderate and severe earthquakes respectively contribute to the expected cost of damages and losses over the lifespan of the structure. In this paper, a method for evaluating, in a life-cycle cost (LCC) perspective, the seismic effectiveness of TMDs on inelastic building structures is presented and exemplified on the SAC LA 9-storey steel moment-resisting frame benchmark building. Results show that the LCC concept may provide an appropriate alternative to traditional performance criteria for the evaluation of the effectiveness of TMDs and that TMD installation on typical existing middle-rise buildings in high seismic hazard regions may significantly reduce building lifetime cost despite the poor control performance observed under the most severe seismic events.